Immunotherapy is emerging as a novel modality for controlling cancer and has been proposed as becoming the fourth cornerstone of cancer treatment along with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Compared to other systemic therapies, immunotherapy relies on the immune system and has the potential to overcome cancer evasion mechanisms and provide long-term cancer control or even cure.

Immunotherapy is distinct from other treatment modalities; instead of directly targeting the tumor, it aims at strengthening or triggering the immune system to respond to the malignancy. The potential for long-term immune memory contributes to the prevention of relapse and even a life-long cure. Harnessing the inherent immune system in the patient body can potentially lower acute toxicity to normal tissue compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Intense research has led to increased understanding of the mechanisms of immunosurveillance and helped with the development of novel therapies that augment the immune response in innovative ways.

This series is designed to educate healthcare professionals on current and emerging scientific data and to ensure that members of a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other relevant healthcare professionals, have the knowledge and skills necessary to apply the standards of care to their practice and healthcare setting when managing patients with kidney cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, or melanoma who are being treated with immunotherapies.

Target Audience

This educational program is designed to meet the educational needs of oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who manage patients with cancer who are being treated with immunotherapies.

Learning Objectives

Following this activity, participants should be able to:

Describe the immunotherapeutic options available for the treatment of kidney cancer.

Incorporate immunotherapy appropriately into the management of patients with advanced kidney cancer based on available clinical evidence and guideline recommendations.

Use NCCN Guidelines® with Evidence Blocks™ to inform shared decision making in selecting cancer therapies.

Additional information

Supporters:

This activity is supported by educational grants from AstraZeneca, Foundation Medicine, and Prometheus Laboratories Inc. This activity is supported by educational funding provided by Amgen.

Disclosure of Relevant Financial RelationshipsAll faculty and activity planners participating in NCCN continuing education activities are expected to disclose any relevant financial relationships with a commercial interest as defined by the ACCME’s, ANCC’s, and ACPE’s Standards for Commercial Support. All faculty presentations have been reviewed for adherence to the ACCME’s Criterion 7: The provider develops activities/educational interventions independent of commercial interests (SCS 1, 2, and 6) by experts on the topics. Full disclosure of faculty relationships will be made prior to the activity.

The faculty listed below have disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:

The NCCN clinical information team listed below, who have reviewed content, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose:Rashmi Kumar, PhD

The ACCME/ANCC/ACPE defines “conflict of interest” as when an individual has an opportunity to affect CE content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.

ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC focuses on financial relationships with commercial interests in the 12-month period preceding the time that the individual is being asked to assume a role controlling content of the CE activity. ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC have not set a minimal dollar amount for relationships to be significant. Inherent in any amount is the incentive to maintain or increase the value of the relationship. The ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC defines “’relevant’ financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest.

All faculty for this continuing education activity are competent in the subject matter and qualified by experience, training, and/or preparation to the tasks and methods of delivery.

PhysiciansNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

NursesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation. NCCN designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.54 contact hours. Accreditation as a provider refers to the recognition of educational activities only; accredited status does not imply endorsement by NCCN or ANCC of any commercial products discussed/displayed in conjunction with the educational activity.

Physician AssistantsAAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 0.50 hour of Category I credit for completing this program.

Pharmacists

National Comprehensive Cancer Network is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.